Electric ring for rotary knitting machines



Jem.I 26, 1943. M. WACHSMAN` 2,309,367

ELECTRIC RING FOR ROTARY KNITTING MACHINES Filed Marh 28; 1942 msnm/wrm, v

NEEDLE Michael l//acS-m'ah/ FYTML' l INVEN-roR Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UIWPED STATES vPli'rralsrr 0pFlCE Y ELECTRIC RING FOR ROTARY KNITTIN MACHINES Michael Wachsman, Brooklyn, N. Y. y Application March 28, 1942, lSerial No. 436,556

3 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved electric ring for rotating knitting machines for conducting electric current to .the rotating electric stop motions used in such machines. Such conducting rings are called electric rings or contact rings by the trade and some prior types are disclosed in the U. S. Patents 1,775,298, September 9, 1930, and 2,147,275 February 14, 1939. These androther prior disclosures are objectionable with respect to dependability and stability in construction and operation. This invention is embodied in a ring characterized by simplicity and ruggedness in design and construction. It is inexpensive and requires fewer parts. It may be said to be two rings in one. In .the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a knitting machine with this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the ring.

Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications.

Referring first to Fig. 1 the numeral I denotes a central rotating shaft which supports the several parts of the stop mechanism. This shaft is attached to the central rotating shaft of a knitting machine, not shown. The illustration in Fig. 1 is sometimes called a knitting machine top. Its use and the manner in which it is attached to the knitting machine is known in the art. The shaft I carries radial arms 2 which support the spindles of the spools of thread 3. Above .the arms 2 there is another set of arms 4 which carry so-called thread end detectors which may be of the type disclosed in the U. S. Patent 1,784,560, December 9, 1930. Near the top there is a third set of arms 6 which carry so-called thread knot detectors 'I which may be of the type disclosed in the U. S. Reissue Patent 19,069, February '6, 1934. The detector units are per se no part of this invention.

Below the arms 2 the shaft I carries a disk I6 which supports thread slack take up devices each of which consists of a bracket 20 having an arm 2| with eyelet 22. A wire spring slack take up arm 23 with eyelet 24 is also supported on the bracket 20. The disk I6 also supports radial arms I of insulating material or insulated as shown at I2. The outer ends of the arms I0 are connected to a rotatable ring I4 which rests upon and rotates upon a stationary ring I5. The latter is xedly supported in any suitable manner upon the knitting machine. For example the ring I may be carried by xed posts I8 by means of brackets I. The posts I8 may represent similar posts to be found in Jaquard knitting machines and are convenient for this purpose. The electric ring I4-I5 serves to conduct electric current from a source to the rotating stop units 5, 'I and other like devices. The electric circuit is normally open and leads from a battery 32 to a magnet 30 which attracts a shipping lever 3l to actuate a well known form of stop mechanism, not shown. The magnet is connected to the stationary ring I5 via the brackets' Il or it may be directly connected. The current then passes on from .the

ring I5 to the ring I4 and then by suitable wires 33 to the stop units and ground upon the machine. With the exception of the ring element I4-I5 the other elements, their arrangement and functions are old in this art.

As seen in Fig. 2 the upper stationary ring I5 has at its lower edge an upturned flange 25 forming a groove 26. The lower rotating ring I4 has at its upper edge a downwardly tuned flange 21 which flts slidingly within the groove 26. When the machine is started and the disk I6 rotates it in turn causes the ring I4 to rotate upon the ring I5 and a good continuous electric connection is maintained between the two ring elements.

In operation the ,thread 40 passes from the spools 3 up to and through the detector units 5 and 'I. Then down through openings 4I and eyelets 22 and 24 to the knitting mechanism, not shown. If too much slack occurs in the thread, or if the ,thread breaks or runs out, the spring wire 23 will be released and snap upwards to engage the rotating ring I4 to close the circuit from the ring I4 to ground upon the machine. The magnet is then energized to at- -tract the shipping lever .to actuate the stop mechanism and the machine will stop as is known in the art and will be understood. The connections between the wires 33 and the stop units may be in any suitable manner known to the art and not shown in detail.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the left hand side of the ring I4-I5 in Fig. 1 except that in Fig. 2 the supporting post 42, similar to the post I8, is shown on the inside of the ring. The arms I0 are omitted in Fig. 2 and the wire `connection 33 shown enlarged. Fig. 2, of course, also shows that if the post 42 is on the outside of the ring I5, the ring I4 may rotate on the inside of the ring I5. In other words, the rotating ring I4 may be on the outside or on the inside of the ring I5. In Fig. 3 the xed ring I4 has an upwardly inclined flange 45 which forms a track for a downwardly inclined iiange 46 on the rotating ring I5. The latter may not require the supporting arms Il), Fig. 1, but may be rotated by strong wires 41 which lead from the ring I5 down to the needle controls, not shown. Fig. 4 shows a fixed ring 48 which has a single upstanding track flange 49 upon which rotates the ring 50.

In all the forms shown the electric ring consists of a fixed and a rotating ring element, one rotating upon the other. The fixed ring supplies current to the rotating ring which in turn is connected to the rotating stop units and controls of the machine. The lower edge 60 of the ring element is engaged by the movable contact mem-y bers such as the wire spring V23 in Fig. l., for example.

The ring element according to this invention is characterized by the fact that it obviates sliding contacts for conducting the electric current to either of the rings and provides a simple compact member for easy installation. In fact, it is apparent from Fig. 2 that the rings I4 and I5 may be made almost alike as two complementary parts with diameters to t one upon the other.

I claim: f

l. As a new article of manufacture an electric ring for rotary knitting machines of the type described consisting of two rings, an inner ring and an outer ring, said rings having complementary interengaging annular anges for rotatably supporting one ring upon the other ring, the respective anges of said rings being bent in opposite directions to form annular grooves, the groove of the one ring receiving the flange of the other ring, said rings being in mutual rotary sliding engagement for the purpose described.

2. In a rotary knititng machine having rotating electrically operated stop motion units of the character describedfan electric ring element consisting of two rings in rotary sliding interengaged relation, means for xedly supporting one of said rings upon the said machine, means for electrically connecting the other of said rings directly to said stop motion units and means for rotating said other ring.

3. A ring element for the purpose and of the character described consisting of two rings, one of said rings having an annular ange bent back upon said ring to form an annular groove, the other of said rings having an annular flange engaging said groove to slide and rotate therein, the said other ring being supported upon the said first ring in supported rotary relation.

MICHAEL WACHSMAN. 

